Gatewood boys’ basketball split games with John Hancock Academy (JHA) and GMC Prep last week, then got back on the winning track Monday night against Young Christian Academy (YAC).
The Gators started off with John Hancock Academy on Tuesday with a 53-33 victory, which completed the season sweep of the Rebels (0-5). They then traveled to Milledgeville on Friday to play GMC Prep, where the Bulldogs defeated them, 57-38.
“We beat John Hancock, which is what I expected,” Gatewood head coach Don Keiser said. “We looked really good. I also got a lot of kids playing time against them.”
The Gators dominated the first half, scoring 42 points while their defense remained stingy and limited the Rebels to only eight points through the opening two quarters.
John Hancock was able to outscore Gatewood 25-11 in the second half; however, the Gators’ offensive and defensive efforts in the first half were too much to overcome.
Freshman Matt Allen, the Gators’ leading scorer, notched a game-high 12 points against the Rebels. Kaiden Keiser added seven points while Jackson Morris and J.T. Gregory scored six each. Each of the Gators’ five starters played eight total minutes in the contest.
Gatewood then faced a tough GMC squad it had lost to by only nine points almost two weeks prior.
“We then went into GMC and played a great first half,” Keiser said. “We were actually up eight (points) on them in the second quarter, but they cut it to two at the half.”
GMC turned on the pressure - on both sides of the ball - in the final half.
The Bulldogs outscored the Gators 35-14 in the final two quarters and cruised to the 19-point win.
“We came out in the third quarter and only hit seven points,” Keiser said. “They just really took over in the fourth (quarter) of the game. We just didn’t hit (our shots) in the second half. I felt like it was kind of my fault. I should have gone to a zone (defense) and switched it up. I went senile for a second and stayed in man (coverage). I blame myself. I should have given (GMC Prep) a different look (on defense).”
Gatewood also played YAC on Monday and won 73-40 over the Eagles in a contest that also saw Morris cross the 1,000-point mark in his high school career.
“I thought at first we were a little bit weak with the ball and kind of lackadaisical, but that’s the only complaint I had,” Keiser said. “At the half, I told them we just need to grab it and be strong with it. But the defense was awesome. The passing was awesome, and I think they all really wanted it for Jackson.”
Gatewood will next face rival Briarwood Academy at home this Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
“I know them pretty well,” Keiser said of Briarwood. “I’ve got film on them, but they lost to Peachtree (Academy) by one. It’s going to be a good one, it’s a rivalry game.”
Keiser added that he hopes his team can carry the momentum into the next part of the season.
“I’m very excited. Again, I wish we would have won that one (against GMC Prep), but that’s totally on me,” he said. “I should’ve switched up my defenses because I always do that, but I am excited to see what the next part of the schedule looks like.”
The matchup with the Buccaneers will be the last of this year for Gatewood. The Gators will resume play Jan. 5, against Thomas Jefferson Academy.